In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Trifles. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play opens with a description of a disheveled kitchen in a small Midwestern home. The play was written in 1916 and takes place during a bitter Iowan winter. The kitchen belongs to Minnie and John Wright. The messy nature of the kitchen conveys neglect has occurred within the household. Three male characters are introduced: Hale, County Attorney, and Sheriff. Two female characters are introduced: Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale. They all find themselves trying to figure out the motive and details for John Wright’s murder. The County Attorney dictates the scene. He keeps the plot moving and doesn’t allow Sheriff or Hale to get muddled in what he thinks are unimportant details of the case. The stasis continues for three French scene. The first French scene is the initial set of stage directions which sets the exposition of the play. The second French scene occurs when the characters enter and begin to discuss the details of the murder. The third French scene begins when the men leave and the women are left alone to discover more clues about the case. 2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Throughout the first 3 French scenes, the topic of the play revolves around searching for clues. The men in the play: Hale, County Attorney, and Sheriff, spend the first 3 French scenes ransacking the house and farm searching for a motive. Due to the nature of the murder, Minnie Wright is the primary suspect. However, the men fail to find anything that directly incriminates Minnie. Further, they doubt that a woman had the capacity to kill her husband because femininity is perceived as being a weakness. The men mock the women’s preoccupation with sewing a quilt and fail to see that Minnie has left a set of clues that alludes to the state of affairs within her household and her marriage. The ragged sewing of the quilt reveals information about Minnie’s mental state. The repeated idea of her choosing to “knot it” (the quilt) is a pun that relates to the fact that she knotted a noose around her husband’s neck.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? One of the primary details about the setting of the play is the fact that it takes place in the winter. This is meant to augment the lack of warmth within the household. The kitchen in particular is cold thereby signifying a lack of maternal warmth due largely because the Wright family does not have children. Another important aspect of the play is that it takes place four years before women achieve suffrage in the U.S. At the time, women’s rights were seen as a frivolous topic. As Mr. Hale states, “women are used to worrying over trifles.” 4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) The primary dramatic question is who killed John Wright. The second question is why was John Wright murdered. However, the question that shares a close connection with the intrusion is whether Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale will tell the men about finding the dead bird. This question is then answered when they lie to the men and say that the cat killed the bird. This in turn answers the question about Minnie Wright’s future.
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale. Ms. Hale must deal with both internal struggle and “me against society.” She quickly overcomes herself and decides to lie to the men in order to protect Minnie. She then faces opposition from Mrs. Peters who repeatedly states things like “the law is the law,” thereby suggesting that perhaps they should tell the men about the bird. Ms. Hale’s wants are revealed when she expresses guilt over not being involved in Minnie’s life. She takes this matter very personally and thereby makes the decision to protect Minnie. 6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles. The opening scene where the men retell discovering John’s body is a theatrical moment. It conveys the gruesome nature of the murder and alludes to the fact that Minnie is acting strange and is not exhibiting signs of sorrow. The women finding the bird also serves as a theatrical moment. It is the intrusion of the play and serves to tie together a lot of the missing information about the motive for John’s murder. 7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) 1.The messy kitchen conveys neglect and lack of maternal warmth. It is supposed to be a woman’s domain but the untidy nature signifies that something was wrong with Minnie. 2. The birdcage conveys oppression and unhappiness. The link between Minnie and a canary is brought up several times. 3. The rocking chair also serves as an important image in the play. Minnie Wright is absent throughout the entirety of the production but the rocking chair serves as an ominous reminder of the fact that the murderer likely sat in that chair. 8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles. Marriage: Although Minnie and John are married, it quickly becomes apparent that it is not a happy and healthy relationship. Gender roles: The men insist on being overbearing and sexist. Midwestern community values: The community values are subtly alluded to throughout the play. The fact that Mrs. Wright does not treat Hale well when he asks to see John is emphasized. Similarly, Ms. Hale feels guilty for leaving Minnie alone for so long. Mrs. Peters doesn’t exhibit regret because she insists that taking care of her children is more important. The presence of violence throughout the course of the show also serves as a theme. The show opens with a description of how John Wright was hung and murdered. Hangings are violent and brutal deaths. The fact that his neck was broken also connects to the death of the bird. The bird’s neck was snapped, likely by John. Therefore, Minnie sought vengeance by hanging her husband and snapping his neck. 9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles? One of the main details that sets apart John and Minnie Wright is that they do not have children. This is very strange for the time and signals that something is off about their relationship. Similarly, the fact that Ms. Hale lies to her own husband as well as the rest of the men conveys that female solidarity with one another is more important than loyalty to your husband. This signals a different definition of family and reiterates Midwestern community values particularly amongst groups of women.
The play opens with a description of a disheveled kitchen in a small Midwestern home. The play was written in 1916 and takes place during a bitter Iowan winter. The kitchen belongs to Minnie and John Wright. The messy nature of the kitchen conveys neglect has occurred within the household. Three male characters are introduced: Hale, County Attorney, and Sheriff. Two female characters are introduced: Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale. They all find themselves trying to figure out the motive and details for John Wright’s murder. The County Attorney dictates the scene. He keeps the plot moving and doesn’t allow Sheriff or Hale to get muddled in what he thinks are unimportant details of the case. The stasis continues for three French scene. The first French scene is the initial set of stage directions which sets the exposition of the play. The second French scene occurs when the characters enter and begin to discuss the details of the murder. The third French scene begins when the men leave and the women are left alone to discover more clues about the case.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
Throughout the first 3 French scenes, the topic of the play revolves around searching for clues. The men in the play: Hale, County Attorney, and Sheriff, spend the first 3 French scenes ransacking the house and farm searching for a motive. Due to the nature of the murder, Minnie Wright is the primary suspect. However, the men fail to find anything that directly incriminates Minnie. Further, they doubt that a woman had the capacity to kill her husband because femininity is perceived as being a weakness. The men mock the women’s preoccupation with sewing a quilt and fail to see that Minnie has left a set of clues that alludes to the state of affairs within her household and her marriage. The ragged sewing of the quilt reveals information about Minnie’s mental state. The repeated idea of her choosing to “knot it” (the quilt) is a pun that relates to the fact that she knotted a noose around her husband’s neck.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
One of the primary details about the setting of the play is the fact that it takes place in the winter. This is meant to augment the lack of warmth within the household. The kitchen in particular is cold thereby signifying a lack of maternal warmth due largely because the Wright family does not have children. Another important aspect of the play is that it takes place four years before women achieve suffrage in the U.S. At the time, women’s rights were seen as a frivolous topic. As Mr. Hale states, “women are used to worrying over trifles.”
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The primary dramatic question is who killed John Wright. The second question is why was John Wright murdered. However, the question that shares a close connection with the intrusion is whether Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale will tell the men about finding the dead bird. This question is then answered when they lie to the men and say that the cat killed the bird. This in turn answers the question about Minnie Wright’s future.
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale.
Ms. Hale must deal with both internal struggle and “me against society.” She quickly overcomes herself and decides to lie to the men in order to protect Minnie. She then faces opposition from Mrs. Peters who repeatedly states things like “the law is the law,” thereby suggesting that perhaps they should tell the men about the bird. Ms. Hale’s wants are revealed when she expresses guilt over not being involved in Minnie’s life. She takes this matter very personally and thereby makes the decision to protect Minnie.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
The opening scene where the men retell discovering John’s body is a theatrical moment. It conveys the gruesome nature of the murder and alludes to the fact that Minnie is acting strange and is not exhibiting signs of sorrow.
The women finding the bird also serves as a theatrical moment. It is the intrusion of the play and serves to tie together a lot of the missing information about the motive for John’s murder.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1.The messy kitchen conveys neglect and lack of maternal warmth. It is supposed to be a woman’s domain but the untidy nature signifies that something was wrong with Minnie.
2. The birdcage conveys oppression and unhappiness. The link between Minnie and a canary is brought up several times.
3. The rocking chair also serves as an important image in the play. Minnie Wright is absent throughout the entirety of the production but the rocking chair serves as an ominous reminder of the fact that the murderer likely sat in that chair.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
Marriage: Although Minnie and John are married, it quickly becomes apparent that it is not a happy and healthy relationship.
Gender roles: The men insist on being overbearing and sexist.
Midwestern community values: The community values are subtly alluded to throughout the play. The fact that Mrs. Wright does not treat Hale well when he asks to see John is emphasized. Similarly, Ms. Hale feels guilty for leaving Minnie alone for so long. Mrs. Peters doesn’t exhibit regret because she insists that taking care of her children is more important.
The presence of violence throughout the course of the show also serves as a theme. The show opens with a description of how John Wright was hung and murdered. Hangings are violent and brutal deaths. The fact that his neck was broken also connects to the death of the bird. The bird’s neck was snapped, likely by John. Therefore, Minnie sought vengeance by hanging her husband and snapping his neck.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles?
One of the main details that sets apart John and Minnie Wright is that they do not have children. This is very strange for the time and signals that something is off about their relationship.
Similarly, the fact that Ms. Hale lies to her own husband as well as the rest of the men conveys that female solidarity with one another is more important than loyalty to your husband. This signals a different definition of family and reiterates Midwestern community values particularly amongst groups of women.